Seeking the Lost

 Seeking the Lost

Do you long to see souls saved? Surely, this is the desire of every Christian. However, many Christians squash this desire and rarely witness. Is this not a weakness we should strive to overcome? Read what Jesus said to the disciples.

And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it. For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels (Mar 8:34-38 KJV).

Did you catch the part about losing your life? Whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it. I don’t think Christ is saying we must be physically martyred, albeit it might come to that, but definitely we should be willing to yield control of our lives to Christ. We should most assuredly be willing to risk our comfort and pride to be a witness. Contemplate for a moment Paul’s bold statement concerning his countrymen.

I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost, that I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh: Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises; Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen (Rom 9:1-5 KJV).

Obviously, this is a difficult passage to interpret, at least in light of his comment about being accursed. Leaving that for further study, one thing is certain: Paul had a great love for the lost. He had suffered many things for the Gospel. Five times he received forty stripes save one, and much more (2 Cor 11:23-27).

Beloved of God, do not shrink back when God opens a door for you to witness, but sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear (1Pe 3:15 KJV). Meditate on the love of God, and you will start to love as He loved. Let your light shine!